Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Sunderland 1:Incoming Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill saw his new team miss a penalty and surrender the lead as Steven Fletcher's late brace saw Wolves to victory at Molineux.

O’Neill, who will officially take over as Steve Bruce’s successor tomorrow, watched on from the directors’ box as Kieran Richardson put the Black Cats ahead early in the second half. But after Sebastian Larsson saw his penalty saved by Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey, Fletcher struck twice in the space of eight minutes to secure the points for the hosts.

Victory moved Wolves four points clear of the bottom three and relieved the pressure on manager Mick McCarthy. It was Wolves’ second win in 12 games but they have now taken seven points from their last three home matches.

Sunderland remain just a point above the relegation zone as their winless league run extended to five games.

The Black Cats were the first to settle and Stephane Sessegnon’s volley was clung on to by Hennessey after Jody Craddock had headed away a Larsson centre. Wolves threatened for the first time when Jamie O’Hara’s volley ballooned up to Christophe Berra whose header was held on the line by Keiren Westwood.

The home side appealed in vain for a penalty after Lee Cattermole tugged at Dave Edwards’ shirt inside the box. Hennessey went down to hold on to Larsson’s long range attempt after a clearance from John O’Shea had dropped into his path.

It needed a superb save from Westwood to keep Sunderland on level terms after 39 minutes. Matt Jarvis delivered a probing cross which found Hunt in space and his powerful close-range effort was parried away by Westwood when a goal seemed inevitable.

Stephen Ward then came to Wolves’ rescue three minutes before the interval when he cleared off the line from the impressive Sessegnon.

Bendtner went for goal himself at the start of the second period when the overlapping Larsson was in a better position and failed to hit the target with his rising shot. But after 53 minutes a superb strike from Richardson put Sunderland in front after a quickfire counter-attack.

Bendtner’s flick found Sessegnon in space and he released the overlapping Richardson whose rising shot flew past Hennessey inside the near post for his second goal of the season.

Sunderland had the chance to double their lead when Craddock was adjudged to have brought down Larsson inside the box although replays suggested the initial contact may have been outside. But Hennessey kept Wolves hopes alive by saving Larsson’s low spot-kick away to his left.

It was a crucial save as within 30 seconds Fletcher had levelled for Wolves. Jarvis sent over a curling centre and Fletcher’s downward header beat the dive of Westwood.

Then Fletcher put Wolves ahead after 81 minutes when a cross from substitute Hammill was manoeuvred by O’Hara to the former Scottish international whose low shot flew past Westwood.